Choose the word that best completes this intensity pattern: annoyed is to angry as content is to .
- thrilled (correct answer)
- pleased
- furious
- hopeful
Explanation: The pattern moves from a mild feeling to a stronger version of that same feeling: "annoyed" is a mild version of "angry." "Content" is a mild positive feeling, so the answer must be an intense positive feeling. "Thrilled" means extremely happy, so it completes the pattern the way "angry" completes the first pair. "Pleased" is also positive, but it is about the same mildness as "content," not stronger, so it does not show the jump in intensity. "Furious" does show a big jump in intensity, but it is a strong negative feeling, so it flips the positive valence the pattern requires. "Hopeful" is positive and forward-looking, but it is not simply a more intense form of feeling content, so it breaks the same-feeling relationship. Only "thrilled" keeps both the positive direction and the increase in intensity, making it the single best answer.